New Zealand tourist killed by Caribbean jet-blast named

A Blenheim woman has been named the victim of a "freak accident" in the Caribbean where she was "blown away by a jet blast".

Kiwi tourist Gayleen McEwan, 57, was with a group of fellow tourists and was killed after receiving head injuries when she was propelled backwards by a jet blast at Princess Juliana International Airport in Siint Maarten.

The mother of three had been holding onto a fence at Maho Beach, a popular destination for tourists seeking to experience jets taking off up close.

There are warnings in place around the airport urging people not to stand in the path of jet blasts in order to avoid serious injuries, and police patrol the area during busy hours to warn people away.

A sign on Maho Beach.
Photo credit: Terrazzo/Flickr

Her sister-in-lawn Janice McEwan, told Fairfax the family is "devastated", and "in shock".

"The family is just trying to support one another at this stage, that's all we can do."

Footage has since emerged online showing what appears to be Gayleen McEwan lying on the beach, and a man can be seen performing CPR on her. The video drew mixed reaction, some labelling it "disrespectful".